A Saint Marys, Ga., woman told police that employees of Goodwill on Peach Orchard Road sold a $600 gold-and-diamond bracelet she lost while trying on clothes at the store.

Lori Renee Toms said that when she realized she had dropped the bracelet at the store Saturday she returned and was told by employees that it had been sold for $2.99.

The sheriff's office was called to the store, but employees weren't cooperative and at one point wouldn't let them in, saying the store was closed, sheriff's Maj. Ken Autry said.

Employee Shannon Latrice Ramsey, 23, of the 600 block of Sea Isle Drive, was arrested and charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer and giving a false name, a report said.

Arrested on magistrate charges were: Tiffany Lashawn Lewis, 23, of the 3500 block of Mike Padgett Highway; Shawnte Nicole Berrio-Hartfield, 18, of the 3600 block of Georgia Highway 88 in Blythe; and Amario Eddie Ceaser, 29, of the 400 block of South Usry in Gibson, Ga.

Man shot in chest for not having cigarette

A man was shot in the chest Sunday night when he was asked for a cigarette but had none to give, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.

Dominique Antoine Brown, 18, told two men that he didn't have any cigarettes, the report said. As he turned to walk away, one of the men pulled a revolver and shot him in the chest, the report said.

He was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital. Investigator Calvin Chew said Monday that he was in critical condition.

The shooting occurred in the 1400 block of Brookstone Road in Hephzibah about 10:30 p.m.

Court upholds death sentence decision

For the second time, the South Carolina Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's decision throwing out a death sentence for a man convicted of raping, torturing and killing a 72-year-old Aiken County woman.

On Monday, the justices affirmed their 4-1 September decision that 43-year-old Donney Council's lawyer should have done more than simply have Mr. Council's mother testify during the trial's sentencing phase.

Authorities say Mr. Council raped Elizabeth Gatti in her home, then forced her to ingest cleaning fluids before killing her in 1992.

A spokesman said Attorney General Henry McMaster hasn't decided whether he'll ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

Police seek man in Family Dollar robbery

Police are looking for a man who robbed a Family Dollar store on Wrightsboro Road on Monday.

The man walked into the store about 1:30 p.m., flashed a handgun and took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, according to Richmond County Investigator Ben Parrish.

The suspect fled on foot, Investigator Parrish said.

Marijuana, cocaine, guns seized in Aiken

Police arrested an Aiken man at his home Monday morning, seizing large quantities of drugs, guns and money, according to authorities.

Robbie Lavern Seigler, of the 100 block of Snipes Road in Aiken, was in jail Monday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, trafficking cocaine, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, four counts of distribution of marijuana and two counts of distribution of drugs within a half-mile of a school, Lt. Troy Elwell of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Investigators seized about 5 pounds of marijuana and 1.25 ounces of cocaine, 17 guns, about $7,000 in cash and a vehicle, the statement said.

Lt. Elwell said the estimated street value of the marijuana was about $10,000 and the cocaine was worth about $1,800.

Information sought on man missing for weeks

The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is attempting to locate a man who has been missing for more than two weeks.

Sean Hope last spoke to his sister Dec. 12 and has not been seen or heard from since, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call (800) 922-9709.

Historic Augusta reps to attend workshop

Erick Montgomery, the executive director of Historic Augusta Inc., and Robyn Mainor, the group's preservation services director, are among 36 participants from across the country chosen to attend a workshop sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street Birmingham Inc.

The Jan. 10-17 program in Birmingham, Ala., includes preservation leadership training and emphasizes the most up-to-date preservation techniques, including training in current preservation practices, issues and strategies. The sessions will include classroom lectures, tours, team projects, role playing and participatory learning experiences.

National, state and local experts in preservation and organizational development comprise the workshop faculty, giving the participants a balanced national perspective and a network of state and local resources for the future.

Smithsonian's food exhibit to be at McDuffie Museum

Smithsonian Institution's traveling exhibit Key Ingredients: America by Food will be at the McDuffie Museum from Jan. 10 through Feb. 22.

Only 12 host sites in Georgia were chosen for the exhibit, which is sponsored by the Georgia Humanities Council and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Key Ingredients explores the connections between the foods Americans produce, prepare, preserve and present at the table. The exhibit addresses farming, table manners, history, markets and kitchen gadgets, according to the Smithsonian Web site.

Local cooks were interviewed for the book that accompanies the exhibit, and works of local artists also will be shown.

The exhibit coincides with the grand opening of the museum, which has undergone extensive renovations. A private, invitation-only grand opening will be held Jan. 10, and the public grand opening will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 11. Admission is free, said Mary Anne Coussons, the executive director of Camellia Partners Inc., which has been overseeing the renovation. Contact the museum at (706) 595-9923 or (877) 595-9923.